Swale

Swale's population increased by about 13,000 between the last two censuses. This semi-automated article highlights some of the key changes among the local population.

The population reached nearly 140,000

In the decade to 2011, the population of Swale increased by 10.6%, from almost 123,000 to 136,000.

The addition of about 13,000 people means this area's population increased faster than the rate of growth across England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Swale was home to, on average, 2.6 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was similar to the average across the South East

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the South East, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Swale

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Swale increased by three years, from 37 to 40 years.

This area had a slightly higher average age than the South East and became slightly older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of just under 5,000 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by almost 3,000.

About 12.0% of people in Swale are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Swale by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in considerably limiting disability

The percentage of Swale residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 3.2% to 4.4% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

The percentage who reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities remained close to 6.1%, while the percentage of Swale residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 90.8% to 89.5%.

The proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 2.5% in 2001 to 3.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.1% to 3.8%.

The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability in Swale increased by 1.2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Swale, the South East and England that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities, March 2001 and March 2011

Change in unpaid care provision

Swale saw the South East's third-largest rise in the proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care.

In 2011, just under 1 in 30 (3.0%) in Swale reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week, compared with 2.3% in 2001. The percentage that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 0.9% to 1.4%.

Across the region, only Rother (from 2.2% to 3.0%) and Folkestone and Hythe (from 2.2% to 2.9%) saw a greater increase in the proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care.

Every local authority area across the South East saw a rise in the proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care, as the regional average grew from 1.7% to 2.0%.

The proportion of people providing 50 hours, or more, of weekly unpaid care in Swale remained close to 3.0%

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Swale by care, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Swale

The 2011 Census asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, the largest percentage point increase in Swale was among those who said they had no religion, rising 14.2 points.

In 2011, 30.8% of respondents in Swale gave this answer to the question on religion, compared with 16.6% of those who answered in 2001.

Across the South East, the percentage of people who answered the question on religion that described themselves as having no religion increased from 17.9% to 30.1%, while across England the percentage went from 15.7% to 26.5%.

Of those who disclosed their religion in Swale, 67.5% said they were Christian, compared with 82.1% in 2001. About 0.1% said they were Sikh, compared with 0.1% 10 years prior.

The percentage of people who disclosed a religious affiliation and did not state their religion decreased from 8.2% to 7.1%.

In Swale, 6.7% chose not to answer the question on religious affiliation, compared with 7.6% in 2001. In South East, 7.4% did not answer the voluntary question, compared with 7.7% in 2001. Across England, 7.2% of people did not answer, compared with 7.7% in 2001.

The population without a religion in Swale increased by 13 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents who answered the voluntary question on religion in England, South East and Swale by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of households in Swale that rented privately increased from 9.0% to 15.2% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just under one in seven (14.3%) households lived in social housing, compared with 15.3% in 2001. The percentage of Swale households that owned their home decreased from 73.4% to 68.3%.

The proportion of privately rented homes increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 10.2% in 2001 to 16.5% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.9% to 16.9%.

Private renting in Swale increased by 6.2 percentage points

Percentage of households in Swale, the South East and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Changing relationships in Swale

The percentage of adults in Swale that were married decreased from 53.6% to 48.5% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just over 3 in 10 (31.3%) people aged 16 and over said they were single, compared with 26.7% in 2001. The percentage of adults in Swale that had divorced or separated from a married or civil partner increased from 11.6% to 13.2%.

The proportion of married people fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 52.8% in 2001 to 49.3% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 50.6% to 46.6%.

The proportion of married people was lower than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were married across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Swale working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 16.1% to 12.3% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, about 1 in 40 (2.5%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 1.8% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 14.3% in 2001 to 11.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13.0% to 10.1%.

Long hour working in Swale decreased by 3.8 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Swale, the South East and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Swale residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 8.2% to 5.7% in the decade to 2011.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (80.2%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 68.3% in 2001. The percentage of Swale residents that described their health as fair decreased from 23.5% to 14.1%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 7.2% in 2001 to 4.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Swale decreased by 2.5 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Swale, the South East and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

More single parents

The percentage of households in Swale, which comprised a single parent, increased from 8.9% to 11.2% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just over one in three (35.2%) households had a married couple, compared with 40.2% in 2001. The percentage of households in Swale, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 10.2% to 11.8%.

The proportion of single-parent households increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 8.0% in 2001 to 9.2% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.5% to 10.7%.

The percentage of households with a single-parent in Swale increased by 2.3 percentage points

Percentage of households in Swale, the South East and England that had a single parent, March 2001 and March 2011

Ethnicity in Swale

In 2011, 96.6% of Swale residents said they were from one of the White ethnic groups, making it the most common ethnicity in this local authority area. The population from these groups has increased from 98.1% in 2001.

Across the South East, the percentage of people from one of the White ethnic groups fell from 95.3% to 90.9%, while across England the percentage went from 90.7% to 85.1%.

Around 1.2% of people in Swale said they were from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed), compared with 0.7% in 2001. About 1.1% said they were from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups, compared with 0.8% 10 years prior.

The percentage of people who said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups increased from 0.3% to 1.0%.

The population from one of the White ethnic groups in Swale decreased by 1.6 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Swale by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in rate of unemployment

The percentage of Swale residents that were unemployed increased from 3.5% to 4.6% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just over one in two (52.2%) people aged 16 to 74 said they were employed, compared with 53.0% in 2001. The percentage of Swale residents that were self-employed increased from 8.7% to 9.8%.

The proportion of unemployed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 2.3% in 2001 to 3.5% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.4% to 4.4%.

The rate of unemployment in Swale increased by 1.1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Swale, the South East and England that said they were unemployed, March 2001 and March 2011

Changes in family structure

The percentage of households in Swale with children decreased from 31.9% to 31.4% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

The percentage that had no children remained close to 58.5%, while the percentage of households in Swale with only adult children living with their parents increased from 9.6% to 9.8%.

The proportion of households with children fell here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (which remained close to 29.2%). Across England, the percentage increased from 29.5% to 29.2%.

The proportion of households with children was higher than across the South East

Percentage of households with at least one dependent child across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

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Area report data

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